Sunday, November 30, 2014

Card stock base is Mikes 110# weight card stock. Green is from SU. Used various washi tapes for the tree pieces. Tree is a die from MFT (My Favorite Things) and that is the Christmas Tree Cutout die. For the "merry" I used the PTI (PaperTreyInk) die Wonderful Words.

To begin with I cut and scored the white card stock base from Mikes. Cut out the green card stock to the size I needed for the card front. Picked out the washi tapes I wanted to use for my card -- as you can see the bottom washi tape -- green checks -- you can see through as well as the holly tape near the tree top. For this reason I decided I needed to use white card stock for my washi taped pieces. I then cut out a piece of white/GP card stock using the tree die. The white tree pieces are what I put my washi tapes on. Once the tapes were on I trimmed the excess washi tape off each tree piece.

Put the tree die on the green card stock and I used painters tape to hold the die on the card stock so that the tree die would stay in place. Once the green tree was cut out I removed the die and cut pieces as this cut out is the foundation for my washi tape tree.

Using the ATG I put adhesive in the center of the front of my white card stock base. Then I used the ATG and put the green tree cut out piece onto the white card stock front. Now I put all the washi taped pieces on the green tree piece. Using a small Marvy star punch I punched out a gold star and put that on the card front using a glue dot.

The "merry" was cut out using the PTI word die and I cut that out of white glittered card stock from Hobby Lobby -- here is a better photo to show the glitter on that piece:

Easy card to put together and another use for my holiday washi tapes. TFL and YOLO

Well . . . this really is not my fault . . . I had to go in the store anyways so . . . at holiday time what card maker would pass the candy aisle without seeing what is new out there that we can make new treat holders for ? ? ?

In the past I have made Snuggets which hold the Hershey Nugget Candies -- and here they are:

These are made using white/GP card stock, a small snowman face stamp from MorningStarStamps.com, and a bath glove from the dollar store -- where everything is a dollar. I cut the white/GP card stock to wrap around the nugget candy and while it is flat I stamped the snowman face stamp on that using black ink. Then used an orange marker for the nose. Put this stamped piece around the nugget using a glue dot to keep it closed. Used scissors to cut off the fingers on the glove and that is the hat. Added a small sparkly pom pom and they are dressed for gift giving. Love those guys and too cute . . . but a Snugget is a Snugget anyway you look at it . . . until I walked down the candy aisle at the big W drug store . . . and there they were . . . just waiting to come home with me and be part of the Peppermint Family and here they are:

These are Lifesavers that are peppermint and the packing reads "candy cane". How I made these is used a ruler to measure the length of the label on the Lifesavers -- I wanted my white/GP piece to cover the candy label. Then measured the width so it would wrap around the candy. (My approx measurement is 3 3/8" long x 3 1/2" wide). Since this is a circle you are wrapping I ran my white/GP card stock over the bone folder so it would not be so stuff and it would go around the candy easier.

I laid this piece flat on the work table and stamped my snowman face stamp on it. Used the orange marker for the nose. Put red sticky tape on one edge of the white/GP and wrapped the white/GP around the Lifesaver roll and closed it. Using ribbon I put that round each roll and tied it in a knot trimming off the ribbon ends with scissors.

For the hats here is a photo of the gloves from the dollar store I used:

Clipped off the thumbs and put them on the Lifesaver candy rolls like a hat -- put a glue dot under the 'hat' to hold it to the white/GP wrapper. Used a mini glue gun and added a white pom pom to the hats to dress them up. Quick and easy and peppermint candies are always popular at Christmas time. Am glad I had to go to the store and found the candy cane Lifesavers --- TFL and YOLO

As usual all my Christmas cards will be different cards in that I am only making one of each rather than cranking out all the same card. I wanted to used the distressed inks on a card and I had seen the card by Heather T on her blog:

http://cards.heathertelford.com/2010/08/18/olw-16-stamp-a-scene/

But I wanted my card to have distressed inks in the same colour group rather than use different colours. Where to begin? I had taken a class and learned all about using distressed inks and the "do's and don't's" of it all. (Thanks Daphne for that). So here is my card and I will explain what I did below that:

To begin with in the class I took we used the 110# weight white card stock by Mikes and that takes the distressed inks well -- the card stock does not get wavy or peel layers away from the inks as you are moving your ink applicator across it since distressed inks stay wet longer for you to be able to work with them. I cut and scored a piece of the 110# weight white card stock for the card stock base. Using my craft mat I opened the white card stock base flat. Using a ruler I measured where on the card front I wanted my band of colours to be and I laid down the blue Post-It notes that I used to mask this area off.

Using three of the distressed inks I began adding colour to the masked space on the card base front. I began with my lightest ink Tumbled Glass, then used Peacock Feathers, and adding a touch of the Broken China at the top of my coloured strip. Here is a photo showing the coloured area and the dark blue Post-It notes:

As you can see this looks rather blotchy but with distressed inks that will sometimes be the look but remember you will be stamping onto this piece so it will not be the focal point of your project. Here is a photo of the Post-It notes peeled away before I stamped the trees:

For the trees I used a stamp from the Stampin Up Lovely As A Tree stamp set and stamped the stamp in the center of the distressed area. I used black StazOn ink for that. The stamp is not wide enough to cover the whole front of the card so I stamped it in the center and then stamped on the edge of my stamped area on both sides so you can see trees from one edge of the card to the other.

Wanted a clean and simple greeting so I used a stamp from PaperSweeties for my greeting and stamped that on the lower right corner of the card:

Again used the StazOn black ink for that. Did not want a large, scrolly greeting as I did not want to complicate the card front. This card literally went together in minutes and thanks to Heather T for sharing her card. Here is the card again -- TFL and YOLO:

Wanted to make a snowman Christmas card but did not want to use the same old, same old snowman stamps. Decided to dig through the stash and so here is my card ---

Found the snowman border stamp in the SU Best Borders stamp set from 1996. Then found the single big snowman stamp in the SU Holiday Hello stamp set from 2000. Both stamp sets I bought used but I am sure you could check Ebay if you wanted to buy them.

To begin with the smaller snowmen on the snowman border stamp is wider than your usual card stock base of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". When I cut my SU Bashful Blue card stock base for this card I cut it so it is 4 1/4" x 5 3/4". Set this aside. Stamped my snowman border stamp onto white/GP using StazOn black ink and cut that to the length and width I wanted it to be. Used markers for the snowmen hats, scarfs, and buttons. Used a fine glue pen for the snow and pom poms on the hats and added fine glitter to that. Tapped it off and set it aside to dry.

For the big snowman I stamped him onto a scrap piece of white/GP using the StazOn black ink. Cut him out, (using the oval dies from Spellbinders), Used markers to colour him and added glitter with the fine glue pen. Then put the blue oval behind him using the ATG. For the "Merry Christmas" stamp I used a stamp from My Sentiments Exactly and stamped that onto white/GP scraps using the StazOn black ink. Cut that out using the Spellbinders tag die set Charmed, I'm Sure. Then lightly sponged the edges of this tag using SU Bashful Blue ink.

Took the border of little snowmen and put that onto a piece of the Bashful Blue card stock. For the card front I used white/GP card stock and embossed that in the Cuttlebug** using the Festive Embossing Folder by Sheena Douglass. Trimmed it to size for the card front and put that onto the blue card stock base using the ATG.

Then used the ATG and put the little snowman border piece across the front of the card. Once that was on I put the larger snowman oval onto the blue oval using the ATG. Put pop dots behind the blue oval to put this on the card for dimension. Used a M Stewart snowflake border punch and punched out white glittered card stock from Hobby Lobby for the little snowflakes. Put the snowflakes on the card front using mini glue dots. This photo shows the snowflakes from the glittered card stock and also the glitter added with the glue pen:

Simple card to put together but do remember --- cut your card stock to the wider width due to the border stamp. ALSO ** remember since your card front is larger than you usually would have when you cut out your white card stock that you are embossing for the card front it has to be larger than your normal size. And, as always, when I emboss card stock I use two pieces of card stock so that my embossed image is a softer embossed image and the 2nd piece of card stock will prevent the embossed card stock from ripping or tearing.

Nice to use old stamps that have not been used recently ... what is old is new again ... or something like that. ..... . ..... TFL and YOLO

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Had seen the video by Linda Millan on her blog -- stampwithcynthia.blogspot.com for her Shimmery Pines card. Of course I do not have the stamp set she used for her card and I am not about to buy one more stamp set that I have other stamps similar to but I did do everything else as her video instructs.

My card stock base is Crumb Cake and the card front is Very Vanilla. For my pine cones and evergreen branches I used the SU stamp set Watercolor Winter. I cut and scored my Crumb Cake card stock base and sponged the edges of the front of the card using the Early Expresso ink. Set that aside.

Cut my Very Vanilla card stock piece 4" x 5 1/4". Stamped the evergreen branches using Always Artichoke ink. Used the Early Expresso ink for the pine cones. Once those were stamped I used a Hero Arts clear stamp set of various greetings for the "Merry Christmas" and stamped that on the lower part of the card using the Early Expresso ink.

Used the Early Expresso ink and sponged the edges and onto the card front. Covered this stamped card front with VersaMark ink. Then covered that using the SU Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat set the embossing powder. Here are photos that show the shimmer on this card front:

Linda had put her card front onto her card stock base using pop dots but I put my card front on my card stock base using the ATG. Thanks to Linda for sharing her card and making a quick video to show this technique. The camera does not do it justice tho. TFL and YOLO

Another card using the technique from Linda Millan -- this time the card stock base is Cherry Cobbler and I used the holly/berries stamp from the SU Watercolor Winter stamp set. The greeting is Hero Arts and that is from a clear stamp set of various greetings.

Cut and scored the Cherry Cobble card stock base. Sponged the edges of the card front using Basic Brown ink. Set it aside. Cut a piece of white/GP card stock 4" x 5 1/4". Stamped the holly/berries stamp using the Basic Brown ink. Then used the second holly/berries stamp from that set (the filler stamp) and I used a Wild Wasabi marker on the holly leaves only and using the huff method I stamped that over the holly/berries stamped area. Using a red marker I coloured in the berries.

Stamped the Merry Christmas greeting using the Cherry Cobbler ink onto the bottom of my stamped piece. Using the brown ink I sponged the edges and into the front of the stamped piece. Using VersaMark ink I inked the whole stamped piece and put SU Iridescent Ice embossing powder all over the stamped piece covering it all --- and then tapped off the excess embossing powder. Using the heat gun I heated the embossing powder until it was set. The camera does not capture the shimmer and shine of this card but I will try to show it:

An easy technique that gives the card front a lot of sparkle and shine. Thanks to Linda for sharing her card and her video. TFL and YOLO

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving to my blog followers (thank you!) and all my daily "Lookie Loos" that visit often. Whether you are planning a holiday meal or planning your shopping strategy for the weekend enjoy yourselves as our holiday season begins.

Here are photos of things I made for the gals at work for Thanksgiving:

Began with two tags -- Used the Sizzix Tags, Scalloped #2 die and cut out the tags using the Kraft card stock from PTI (Paper Trey Ink). Used background stamps and stamped the tags. Then for this first tag I used a stamp from MorningstarStamps.com and used a small Marvy oval punch for my pumpkin pieces:

Once the pumpkin pieces were punched out I used various background stamps and stamped the ovals and then sponged the edges of those and put three ovals together for the little pumpkins. Used two small circle punches to make the 'ring' around the hole at top of the tag and I used the Kraft card stock for that. Put that ring over the hole using a glue pen. Added twine and this tag was done.

For the second tag I used a circle punch, a Marvy flower punch, and a scalloped circle punch and made my turkey from scraps of card stock --

Added wiggle eyes and the turkey was done -- for his beak I used one of the petals from the flower and his wattle I used a small heart punch. For "gobble" I stamped that onto scrap cream card stock and used a banner die to cut that out. Tucked it under the turkey on the tag and put that on there using a small glue dot. Added ribbon and twine from the stash to the tag top.

Since Thanksgiving is about food I decided to give the gals food treats -- went to the dollar store and picked up small jars and these jars are what the tags are for. Made a batch of White Trash and a batch of Bellybuttons and that is what is in the jars:

Since the jars are glass and I had to take them to work and they would be taking them home I wanted a simple way of packaging these to travel. Used three small boxes and brown paper shred from the dollar store and card board between the jars and here they are:

And of course being a holiday we all would like new holiday jewelry so I made us all Turkey pins:

Well, Tom (the turkey) is waiting for me in the kitchen along with my baking list --- everyone enjoy your holiday and be safe! TFL and YOLO

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Mailed off all the Thanksgiving cards so now onto Christmas and the holiday season -- hoping to get to my new MFT dies but for now here are some of the Thanksgiving cards the mail man gets to drive around with this week:

Turkey die from PTI (Paper Trey Ink) and card is a flap card.

Wreath is a stamp from Close To My Heart stamps and pumpkin was made with small oval punch by Marvy.

Turkey die is from TSOL (The Stamps of Life) by Stephanie Barnard for Sizzix. Her turkey and her butterfly stamp sets were used for the turkey 'feathers'.

These two pumpkin cards were cut out using a pumpkin die from Sizzix and the card fronts are holiday napkins from the craft store -- used clear cling wrap to attach the napkins to the card stock and then cut out the pumpkin shapes. Used gold Shimmer Mist on the napkin/card front for some shimmer.

Used a large oval punch for my five pumpkin pieces. Then stamped each oval with different background stamps and put the ovals together and that made the pumpkin. Added a vine and leaf from a Sizzix die. The brown mesh at the pumpkin top is brown mesh that is the outer packaging to the dog bones for Luke from the store. Added a brad to that and trimmed the mesh to the size I wanted.

Used the Pumpkin Shape Up Series dies for these two pumpkins--photo above and below. Once all the pumpkin pieces were cut out in the Cuttlebug (the die cuts all 7 pumpkin pieces in one pass in the machine) I used seven different embossing folders to emboss the pumpkin pieces. Then sponged the edges and put them together on the pumpkin shaped card stock base. Added leaves and ribbon to the top and they were done --

The above pumpkin also has a doily on the left front that I cut out using a QuicKutz doily die and I put that on the pumpkin using a glue pen. TFL and YOLO

Thursday, November 20, 2014

This is another version of making a flap card. Used Crumb Cake for the card base and the front flap for the card. White is GP and the stamped kraft card stock piece above the turkey is from Mikes. I used the Gobble, Gobble stamp set and matching die from PTI (Paper Trey Ink) for the turkey. Used markers and the huff method for his feathers. Stamped the turkey using Chocolate ink from Close To My Heart and both the feathers and turkey pieces are stamped on PTI Kraft card stock.. For the bow I used a M Stewart punch and added an orange crystal to the center of that. Put the turkey body on top of the feathers piece using pop dots.

For the inside of the card I cut a piece of holiday printed card stock from Hobby Lobby at the bottom of the inside piece. Used a marker for his beak. TFL and YOLO

Saturday, November 15, 2014

To begin with this is a Santa "To and From" tag stamp from Hero Arts from 1996 that I bought used for 50 cents. Decided to make some holiday tags so I thought I would share this one.

I knew the shape I wanted the Santa tag to be on but did not want to just make a tag --- wanted an envelope to put it in --- so I used the Sizzix/SU Scallop Envelope Die and cut out red card stock from Mikes to make my envelope -- in the following photos I used scrap card stock to show this:

The above photo is the die cut piece. Then I turned it on it's side to begin folding it:

Again this is scrap card stock just to show how to make the envelope -- with your four scored lines score the big straight side, the scalloped side, and one of the small ends using the bone folder to crease the scored lines --- unlike my photo -- leave the other small end not folded and scored.

Fold in the scalloped edge and use red sticky tape on the big straight edge side and fold that over to be on top of the scalloped side:

Once the sides are folded in then put red sticky tape on the small straight end and fold that up and over the folded pieces and this makes your envelope:

Here is the 1996 Hero Arts Santa Tag stamp:

Since I was not using a tag die for my tag piece I had to decide what size I would need the Santa piece to be. Cut out and made my red envelope using the red card stock from Mikes first. Then measured both the width and length of my red envelope. So using white/GP card stock I cut out a piece 2" width by 3 1/2" long. Using scissors I cut off the two top corners of the tag to give the white/GP the tag shape I wanted. Stamped Santa on that using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and black StazOn ink. Used a red pencil and a light pink pencil for his hat and face. Used a glue pen on the brim of the hat, the pom pom, and then his beard and mustache. Sprinkled fine white glitter on him and tapped it off. Set him aside to dry. Once that was done I knew I wanted something above his hat but did not want anything bulky like a ribbon or anything. So I pulled out the Washi box and found the red printed tape -- problem was the tape is wider than what I wanted. So I cut a piece longer than what I needed for the width of my tag and then used scissors to cut the Washi tape in half lengthwise to make it narrow. Put that across the tag and trimmed off the edges.

Always when I make tags, either cutting it out free hand or using a die, I always make a ring for the hole on the tag top. Not only does that help to make the hole at the tag top stronger but I think it looks more finished. For this tag I used scrap red card stock from Mikes and cut out a 1/4" hole using a circle punch. Then using a 5/8" circle punch I cut out another circle over that first circle hole I made. This gives me the ring. I used a glue pen to put the ring on the tag top and then punched out the tag hole using the same 1/4" circle punch. Added ribbons from the stash to tie at the tag top.

Here are better photos of Santa and his envelope:

Another use for the Sizzix/SU Scalloped Envelope die and a good use for a 50 cents Hero Arts Santa stamp. TFL and YOLO

Picked up a package of holiday napkins for Thanksgiving and here are the cards I made using these napkins --- but first for this card I used the Napkin Transfer Technique where you use a printed napkin, clear cling wrap, and card stock for your card.

To begin with many of the dollar stores sell holiday napkins as do craft stores in their holiday sections. Once you open your napkin you may see the pattern on the four folds of the napkin. All napkins have "ply" which is the paper layers that make up the napkin. The cheaper napkins usually have two layers but could have more. With your napkin open use scissors to cut a printed section off the napkin --- I always cut one of the four squares and always leave your napkin piece larger than the die you are going to cut your napkin out with.

Once you have your napkin square cut out of the napkin, gently separate the printed pattern front of your napkin from the backing pieces (ply) so you will only have your printed piece to work with. Gently separate the napkin pieces so you do not tear a hole in your printed napkin piece. Discard the backing (ply) piece(s). I use aluminum foil from the dollar store and tore off a piece larger than what my napkin piece was. Put this foil piece on the ironing board flat -- smoothed out any wrinkles. Turn on the iron to med-hot and do not use steam for this process.

While the iron is heating up I cut a piece of card stock larger than my printed napkin piece. Put the card stock on your foil on the ironing board. Then use NON MICROWAVEABLE clear cling wrap (I used Glad Wrap) and tear off a piece larger than the card stock piece but still smaller than the foil piece. Put the cling wrap over the card stock on the ironing board and smooth out all wrinkles. Then put your printed napkin piece on top of this -- being sure there are no wrinkles. On top of the printed napkin piece now put another piece of foil, again larger than the cling wrap, the card stock, and the printed napkin piece.I try to keep the bottom foil and the top foil pieces about the same size.

Using the iron go over the foil "sandwich" lifting the iron and moving it as you go. The important thing is to be sure the cling wrap has melted as this is what will hold your napkin piece onto the card stock. Once it is heated and done you are now ready to make your card.

Here are photos of Thanksgiving cards I just made using this technique:

For my card I used the Spellbinders Pumpkin Die set and using the largest pumpkin die I cut out the printed napkin/card stock piece. Then I used Shimmer Mist and spritzed that onto my napkin/pumpkin pieces. While that was drying I cut and scored a piece of card stock for the the card stock base. The Spellbinders Pumpkin Dies are "wonky" in that the top of the pumpkin is not even -- so to make the card stock base I lined up the fold of my card stock just under the lowest part of the die and then cut the card stock base out -- this way the fold of the card will not be cut --- here is a photo of the back of the card to show this:

Also here is a photo of two of my Napkin Pumpkin Cards that I made -- the card on the left I used the pumpkin coloured card stock for the napkin/front piece and then the card on the right I used the cream for the napkin/front piece:

The card on the left has a more pumpkin coloured looked to it because the pumpkin card stock colour shows through the printed napkin piece where the card on the right, with the cream pumpkin card stock behind the printed napkin, gives the card front truer colours on the pumpkins and such.

Other tips --- I use painters tape to keep my metal dies in place on my card stock when I am cutting them out in the machine. If you should also do that be sure when you tape your pumpkin die onto your printed napkin piece that you put your tape towards the outside of your metal die. This way, once the die cut piece has been cut, and you are removing your die from the napkin piece that you do not tear a hole in your die cut napkin shape from the tape.

Easy technique and a quick way to make holiday shaped cards. Used various holiday stamps and banner dies for the greetings at the top of the pumpkins. Ribbon and twine are from the stash. TFL and YOLO

Using the Sizzix/SU Scallop Envelope die I made these three treat holders. Good for favors to give to friends or to put on your holiday table at place settings. Here is a better photo of each holder:

To make these holders I cut out double sided card stock and also a single sided card stock and then cut the Scallop Envelope die and cut out the pieces. Using paper doilies from the dollar store I cut them in half and put them inside my die cut holder. Used double sided tape to keep the doily in the holder. Used red sticky tape to close my holders. Using a large and then a small oval punch I punched out the ovals to make my bows. Used a 3/8" circle for the circle in the center of the bows and added a crystal to that for the front. Bows are put together using glue dots. Added crystals from the stach for the 'bling'.

Ghirardelli sells a pack of two of their holiday candies for 99 cents and one of the holiday candies in this pack has a Christmas tree on it and then the other candy has a snowman:

These holders are easy to put together and you can use up left over pieces of card stocks for the holders as well as the bow or maybe a card stock that you are not too fond of. Cute presentation for "a little something" for treats. TFL and YOLO

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

'Tis the season or something like that. . . have been working on sewing fabric ornaments for Christmas. I make them for tie-on's for presents or just an small ornament for the tree and here are some of the fabric ornaments I have been working on --- and tomorrow it will be back to card making for me --

Every year I try to make a new angel for Christmas and this year I found these little cuties on this blog:

http://wienblog-selimutku.blogspot.ca/2013_10_01_archive.html

Cute idea and basically you trace the circle around a CD or DVD and that is the robe for the angel. For my angel wings I used the hearts Spellbinders die set and I used the second largest heart die and cut out my felt wings. I used a 3" circle for the muslin angel head and sewed a yoyo from that. Look at the photos on her blog to see all she did --- cute angels and easy to put together:

Now for Santa baby -- had seen him on:

http://wienblog-selimutku.blogspot.ca/2013_10_01_archive.html

But I adjusted the pattern as I wanted his face to have a straight even piece. Camera did not do well with the glare on his eyes but here he is and the second photo is to show his size -- he is less than 6" long:

Now for "Lollipop, Lollipop, oh Lolly Lolly pop". I had seen these on Youtube.com and the title of the video is Fabric Yo-Yo Lollipop Christmas Ornaments. Easy video to follow and lots of how-to tips on that. But once again I did not sew my rectangles together by hand as he suggested as I did them assembly line on the sewing machine much faster. Here is a group photo of my lollipops using buttons from the button jar and ribbons from my stash --- fabrics are from Hobby Lobby:

Thanks to all the inspiration out there for holiday crafts and patterns. TFL and YOLO.

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About Me

Retired from a government job after 30 years. Recently moved from New York to North Carolina. My card making craft began with one Stampin Up party and I have gone on from there. Try to buy the most with my dollars---coupons or sales at the big box craft stores but have found the best deals are on my local Craig's List ads and in the past also Ebay. Also like to cross stitch, sew, and cook and bake from scratch.